News Flash!
Live Reports
from Fall WDW Press Event

AllEarsNet
founder Deb Wills (who is attending the event as a guest of Beci
[and husband Chris] Mahnken and Len
Testa, a member of Bob Sehlinger's Unofficial Guide to WDW
team, are reporting on events as they unfold.

October
10, 2003, 9:30 a.m. EDT -- Our friends from WDW PassPorter, Jennifer
Watson and Dave Marx, just phoned in this report from the press conference
held this morning at the Pop Century Resort:

"The
morning started out outside of Pop Century with dancers performing various
dances of the '60s and '70s. To tease us, occasionally a stunt car would
jump across the stage. Eventually Al Weiss and Jay Rasulo came onstage
in a stunt car, amidst a cloud of smoke.

"After
breakfast, inside the conference area of Pop Century, Weiss and Rasulo
talked about the Disney parks' worldwide expansion over the last five
years and then finally they made some of the announcements we've been
waiting for.

"They
announced new attractions for all for WDW parks, as follows:

"--
In Animal Kingom, the previously announced Expedition Everest.
There was no real new news except that development is progressing. It
was stressed that this will certainly be 'an attraction like no other
at any Disney theme park.'

"--In
Epcot, the long-rumored Soarin' over California attraction
will be lifted from Disney's California Adventure park. They said it
will be located in the Land pavilion, since its general theme will be
the environment and nature.

"--In
the Magic Kingdom, Stitch's Great Escape will replace
the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. The emphasis here is
that this new attraction will be "family friendly." The basic
concept is that this is Stitch *before* he came to Earth, when he was
still a menace and a pariah. The audience members will be assigned to
'guard' him, but he will eventually escape and then "fun mayhem"
(with NO scares) will ensue. This attraction is projected to open mid
2004.

"--In
the Disney-MGM Studios, the rumored Stunt Show Spectacular
from Disneyland Paris is coming. Jay Rasulo, who formerly headed DLP,
talked enthusiastically about this attraction. A 5000 seat amphitheater
will be built for this attraction, which is part of "the overall
redevelopment of the backlot area," including the addition of new
cityscapes in the New York Street area." Cities to be added include
San Francisco and Chicago.

Dave
and Jennifer will be talking to other Disney spokespeople this morning
and will phone in additional reports, along with sending photos, later.

In addition, be sure to read their PassPorter newsletter for more details
on these stories -- the new issue is coming out tonight, Thursday. You
can subscribe to the newsletter at their website: http://www.passporter.com